The First Jasmine - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: The Betrothal Gifts and the Ceremonial Return

"This servant offers thanks for the Third Miss's life-saving grace."

Concubine Zhao knelt before Ye Li, her plain and elegant attire presenting a stark contrast to her former seductive glamor. Ye Li raised her hand, gesturing for Qingluan to support her up, and spoke flatly, "You need not stand on ceremony. Once you arrive in Yunzhou, you do not need to worry; someone will naturally arrange everything for you."

Concubine Zhao nodded her head, stating, "This servant believes that the Third Miss's words are as unshakeable as a mountain. This servant will also abide by our agreement, peaceably and dutifully raising this child." Lowering her head, she gently caressed her still-flat abdomen, the space between her brows completely filled with softness and maternal love. From now on, this child would be her everything.

Ye Li nodded her head, instructing Qingshuang at her side, "Go and fetch five hundred taels of silver banknotes for Concubine Zhao, to serve as travel expenses for the road." Qingshuang gave her compliance and departed, while Concubine Zhao looked at Ye Li with absolute gratitude. The entire Ye Manor was under Wang-shi's absolute control, and that naturally included the various rural estates across the regions. It was already an inevitability that Wang-shi would covertly dock her living expenses; although she had accumulated some silver herself, it was not a vast amount. Within the entire Ye Manor, aside from the Old Madame and the Master, only the Third Miss could produce such a massive sum of money at a single instance.

Concubine Zhao understood perfectly in her heart that although the Third Miss was not someone who treated others with passionate warmth or approachability, as long as one behaved dutifully, she was absolutely a reliable and trustworthy individual. "Many thanks for the Third Miss's pity."

"Once you reach that side, someone will be responsible for the safety of you and the child. With Father present, she would not dare to act too blatantly either. However, if you wish to live well over there, it will depend entirely on your own methods," Ye Li flatly reminded her. At any rate, the rural estate didn't belong to her; if Concubine Zhao possessed the capability, taking control of it herself would also be better for the child.

Concubine Zhao was startled, privately astonished in her heart that Ye Li could actually see through her inner thoughts. However, since the Miss had opened her mouth, it naturally signified that the Xu clan would aid her to a certain extent. As long as she possessed sufficient methods to grasp the Yunzhou estate tightly, it could become a place for herself and her child to settle down and establish their lives. Thinking to this point, Concubine Zhao hastily thanked Ye Li once more, while the reverence and awe in her heart deepened by several fractions.

"Miss, the Prince Ding Imperial Manor has arrived to deliver the betrothal gifts." Qingyu walked inside with a face covered in absolute joy, laughing as she spoke, "The Old Madame and the Master request the Miss to head over immediately."

Ye Li nodded her head. Noticing that the expression upon Qingyu's face was somewhat peculiar, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is there something else?"

The joyous expression on Qingyu's face turned into quite a tangle. Looking toward Ye Li, she answered, "His Highness Prince Li and the Fourth Miss have also returned. Today is precisely the day of Fourth Miss's ceremonial return to her maternal home." It was unknown whether it was deliberate or if the date truly just happened to be such a coincidence, but the Fourth Miss's return and the Third Miss's betrothal delivery had actually clashed on the very same day.

Ye Li was also startled; she had nearly forgotten that Ye Ying was supposed to return today. "Did an incident occur?"

Qingyu curled her small lips, stating, "Prince Li and our future Prince Consort arrived at roughly the exact same time. Yet Prince Li's countenance is so dark and grim, it looks as though someone owes him tens of thousands of silver taels and refuses to return them. It is truly an inauspicious sight!"

"Presumptuous," Ye Li flatly chided. Qingyu blinked her eyes, perceiving that there wasn't any genuine fury within her mistress's words. Only then did she playfully stick out her tongue, covering her small mouth as she hid to one side.

Qingshuang emerged carrying a plain embroidered pouch and handed it to Ye Li. Turning around, Ye Li placed it alongside a golden lock-charm into Concubine Zhao's hands, stating, "Consider this my gift to my younger brother; I shall not see the Concubine off when the time comes."

Concubine Zhao's eyes turned red. Recalling that today was the day the Prince Ding Manor arrived to deliver the betrothal gifts, she hastily suppressed her tears to bid farewell to Ye Li, before thoroughly stowing away the items and walking out.

Ye Li turned back and commanded, "Let us go and pay respects to Grandmother."

Because the Prince Ding Imperial Manor fundamentally lacked anyone who could truly count as Mo Xiuyao's elder, Mo Xiuyao had deliberately entreated two exceptionally renowned elders of the capital to come to the manor together: the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, the venerable Elder Master Su Zhe, whom Ye Li had met once before, alongside the current Empress's father, the old State Duke of Hua. Both of these individuals could be counted as weight-bearing figures within the capital, causing Minister Ye to feel immense pride upon his face.

The immensely long inventory list of betrothal gifts from the Prince Ding Imperial Manor easily caused people to recall the scene when the Prince Li Manor delivered its betrothal gifts previously. What had originally looked fairly decent now, upon comparison, left everyone feeling that the Prince Li Manor lacked several fractions of sincerity. Consequently, Minister Ye invited Elder Master Su, the old State Duke of Hua, and Prince Ding to the study to converse with smiles covering his face, inadvertently completely ignoring Ye Ying and Mo Jingli, who had arrived at roughly the same time.

"Li'er pays respects to Grandmother, greetings to the old Madame of Hua, greetings to the various Madams." The moment Ye Li stepped into the Rongle Hall, she beheld Old Madame Ye conversing with the old Madame of Hua in extreme merriment, with several somewhat familiar-looking madams joining in the fun below. Conversely, Mo Jingli, Ye Ying, and Wang-shi sat to one side with rather unsightly countenances. Wang-shi and Ye Ying were blatantly unable to interject into the conversation, while Mo Jingli's expression was roughly of the sort that left people entirely lacking the courage to speak with him.

"Li'er, come over quickly. Everyone, look upon this granddaughter of mine; is she not excellent?" Old Madame Ye affectionately gestured toward Ye Li, her somewhat cloudy old eyes also completely filled with a genial smile, as though Ye Li were her absolute most treasured, darling granddaughter. Ye Li submissively stepped forward. "Grandmother."

The old Madame of Hua pulled Ye Li to sit by her side, laughing as she spoke, "Old Madame must not blame this old body for competing with you over your granddaughter; looking upon this Third Miss, I simply find myself unable to contain my fondness for her. No wonder that girl Tianxiang of my household babbles all day long about coming to seek the Third Miss to play."

Ye Li smiled and replied, "The Old Madame overpraises me; Li'er also misses Tianxiang dearly."

The old Madame of Hua nodded her head repeatedly, stating, "A good child; you indeed possess your late mother's elegant demeanor. No wonder that child Xiuyao refused to step out his door for so many years, yet this time he made a dedicated trip to our manor to entreat our old master to come forward and propose the marriage."

Ye Li lowered her head, a shallow blush dyeing her clear and beautiful countenance. She spoke in a soft voice, laughing, "The old State Duke of Hua has ignored worldly affairs for many years, yet to endure such labor this time, Li'er truly feels..."

The old Madame of Hua silently nodded her head in approval. Even while feeling shy, she could still remain dignified, appropriate, and handle the situation with absolute ease, unlike the general run of delicate and fragile young ladies from grand households. Only a woman such as this could uphold such a massive family estate as the Prince Ding Imperial Manor.

Affectionately patting Ye Li, she laughed and said, "What does that matter? The old master is currently idle with nothing to do anyway, so he naturally wishes to fret over the marriages of the younger generations. Xiuyao was also watched by our old master as he grew up..." Seemingly recalling Mo Xiuyao's current circumstances, the old Madame of Hua could not help but let out a soft sigh, instructing Ye Li, "From now on, you two will be one family; you must live your days well together..."

Ye Li assumed a bashful expression, silently complying on the surface, while within her heart, a massive character for embarrassment had already unfurled.

Seemingly recalling that they had neglected the other newlywed couple, the old Madame of Hua turned her head to smile toward Mo Jingli, stating, "This old body has not yet offered congratulations to Prince Li and the Princess Consort of Prince Li. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao have long since looked forward to cradling a grandchild; presumably, the two noble individuals will very quickly have their wishes fulfilled."

The moment the old Madame of Hua opened her mouth, the various guests present also hastily offered congratulations to Mo Jingli and Ye Ying. In truth, the freezing aura radiating from Mo Jingli was simply too terrifying, leaving those who originally wished to congratulate him entirely lacking the courage to open their mouths. Now that the old Madame of Hua had taken the lead, the crowd naturally flowed along with the prompt to offer their congratulations. Mo Jingli looked upon the crowd with a freezing face, but ultimately, he could not fail to give face to the old Madame of Hua, flatly nodding his head.

Seated beside the old Madame of Hua, Ye Li happened to take Ye Ying's expression fully into her sight. Ye Li also felt somewhat peculiar; although some incidents had occurred on the day of the wedding, they didn't share any direct relation to Ye Ying herself. Given Mo Jingli's fondness toward Ye Ying, he ought to have felt even more guilt toward her because of it, and thus doubled his kindness toward her. Yet the expressions of these two were truly entirely unlike the countenances that a pair of mutually attached newlyweds ought to possess. Perhaps because of Ye Ying's nearly unmaskable, dim expression, Wang-shi's countenance was also not particularly pleasing. Fortunately, she still knew to observe the occasion, merely keeping a sunken face without throwing a tantrum.

"Prince Ding has arrived."

The voice of a maid delivering word echoed from outside the door. Minister Ye entered alongside the old State Duke of Hua, Elder Master Su Zhe, and Mo Xiuyao. Before the individuals had even stepped inside, the old State Duke of Hua's resonant laughter drifted into the room, "Haha, this old body has waited for so many years; I am finally going to drink Prince Ding's wedding wine. What does enduring a bit of labor count for? It is just the right opportunity to behold how extraordinary the future Princess Consort of Prince Ding is, to the point of making that girl of my household admit thorough defeat."

"A-Li is still young of age; the old State Duke must not frighten her," Mo Xiuyao's voice echoed flatly, carrying a touch of gentle laughter.

"Good lad, you haven't even conducted the grand wedding yet you already know to shield your wife."

A blanket of serenity enveloped the hall. The old Madame of Hua pushed Ye Li with a smile, laughing as she spoke, "The old master of our household is a crude man; Li'er must not take offense."

Ye Li shook her head with a smile. Looking toward the entrance, she beheld the foremost individual possessing silver hair and a white beard; although he was nearing seventy years of age, he still walked with the stride of a dragon and the pace of a tiger, his aura absolutely extraordinary. Ye Li was originally born from a lineage of military families; the moment she beheld this old master, she knew this individual was bound to be a famous general who had spent half his lifetime traversing the battlefields, and she could not help but experience a sprout of favorable impression within her heart.